Going Home: Georgetown Changes With the Times

Georgetown, S.C., is accustomed to changing with the times. As one of the oldest cities in North America, Georgetown has seen industries grow and die over the years. But even during the down economy, the city has its sights on what's next.

ABC's Sharyn Alfonsi calls South Carolina home. She spent much of her childhood there, and she recently returned to Georgetown to report for the "Going Home" series on "World News."

While covering local green technology businesses, Alfonsi stopped by Pat Doyle's house for a front porch conversation. Doyle is Georgetown's resident historian, a wealth of information on the town's rich history.

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"Georgetown County produced more rice than anybody in the whole world," Doyle told Alfonsi, describing the city's major industry before the Civil War.

Doyle has witnessed businesses rise and fall, including the recent closure of the steel mill and shift cuts at the local paper mill. With an unemployment rate of almost 11 percent, Georgetown now looks to reinvent itself again.

"I'm sure every small town in a way has had to do that," Doyle said.

We hope you'll watch today's Conversation to learn more about beautiful and resilient Georgetown.